From the Editor's Desk
ON SLAVERY:
-Victor E. Blue, Editor
Most liistorians would agree that slavery was “abolished” with the implemen
tation of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863. Some would even suggest the
system was perpetuated by the sharecropping arrangement between white farmer s
and former slaves. 1 contend that the system is still alive today—only in the form cf
major college sports.
Basketball, in many ways, has replaced sharecropping. Many young black
hoop stars are lured into the system with the promise of fame, success, money anl
a professional career. However, somewhere along the line, the big-time (planta
tions—err) universities forgot that these students are actual students and should be
required to have the same qualifications as non-athletic students. Is the basketball
playing student’s first priority academics or winning? I hope that Loyola-Marymount
did not place this burden on Hank Gathers. Is winning basketball games more
precious than life itself?
Although many schools argue that they have taken the kid from the streets and
given him the opportunity to make it to the pros (and make millions), the sad reality
is that often the university does not prepare these students to be productive citizens.
If 1 were an inner city basketball star signed by a major school, my main goal would
be to make money; however, universities should place a higher emphasis on
academics for athletes.
When basketball becomes the life of a student-athlete, he does not feel that he
has to comply with the same regulations as other students. You have to look only
25 miles to the east to find several prime examples. Although North Carolina State
has one of the finest reputations in the country as a research center, its basketball
program is probably one of the best examples of a 20th century sharecropping
system. The school is already on two-year probation for recru it ing v iolations and has
recently been rocked with accusations of players receiving money and point-shaving
incidents. How could Charles Shackleford or any other player receive money and
no one know about it? If these accusations are true, 1 sec no reason why the NCAA
should continue to let NCSU field a men’s basketball team.
The University of Maryland is also playing with fire-again. After the cocaine-
induced death of Len Bias in 1986, the university cominittcd itself to keeping a stern
grip on 'he men’s basketball team. Yet, in ;i:. '.i^t few weeks allegaiinns of NCAa
\ olatioi s have surfaced again. \X'hy could tl r j .rograni not k'arn irom the death ol
iciycr t i.u .■)iivA-KL\i iiic entire iiaLion.
Football programs also have their share of problems. I’m sure that Coach Mack
Brown is facing pressure to win after tw'o consecutive 1-10 campaigns. This should
not be incentive enough for the school to admit any students with sub-par qualifica
tions (the two black Richmond County players). Even if they are two of the most
highly touted high school grid stars in the country. Where do we draw the line if they
are admitted? It would be a totally different story if the u ni versity was recruiting them
in order to help them become better students, but that is just not the case. The
university is only considering admitting these two players because of their immense
talent and expected contributions to our football team.
It is time for universities tostop making special allowances for athletes. In the
long run it is more harmful to black athletes because they will face discrimination and
other forms of racism in the real worid. Black students should begin to focus more
attention on how athletes are being treated. Whether or not athletes like the special
treatment, they are not being prepared for life after college as well as non-athlete
siudents.-
INSIDE Black Ink
-Positive Statistics for Black Under graduates at UNC
- Proud To Be an African-American
-page 4
-Flashback Photos From the Ink's Files
■page 5
COVER STORY
■BSM ELECTIONS '90 ..pgggg 6, 7
-Janet Jackson
-Point After Touchdown
-page 8
- The year was 1968, the place-Mexico
-page 9
-Students on Racism and the American Dream
-page 10
-From the President's Desk
-page 11
.'’o' z'
Editor- Victor E. Blue
Layout Edilor- Erika F. Campbell Managing Editor- Akmwole N'Gai Wright
Staff Writers-Chandra McLean, Dillard Massey, Maria Burgos, and Nicole McNair
Contributors- Myron B. Pitts, Lynette Blair, Tonya Blanks, Chris Brown, Ed Davis,
David Minton, and Paul Cory
Many Thanks to all that made this issue possible!!! . „ ;•
NELSON
MANDELA
About the Cover
The 1990 BSM presidential candidates Dana Lumsden and Sabrina Evans at the Old
Well. Check out their platforms and further BSM election coverage on pages 6 and 7.
photo by David Minton.'
About the Back
Recently freed African National Congress Leader Nelson Mandela, accompanied by his
wife Winnie, gives an African power salute to the press at Archbishop Desmond Tutu's
residence in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo by World Wide Photo.
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